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Spadeadam 2011/2014

mikev1984
Posts: 1628
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:02 pm

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by mikev1984 » Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:58 am

Thanks

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:28 am

Just for a change, I' m on a Base visit to Spade with RAES Warton Branch hopeing for some action its a morning visit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QXskKB ... 377.162235
Last edited by johnhowe on Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:07 pm

Spadeadam visit 24th, July, 2014, after booking in at the Guardroom, we met our host for the visit it was The Station Commander, Wing Commander Matt Lawrence.

Wg Cmd Lawrence gave a presentation on how Spadeadam evolved from The Blue Streak Rocket era , taken over by the Army as an artillerry range for a few years,

until it finally became solely used by aircraft from the USAF and RAF For Electronic Warfare with Nato type visiting on Exercises.


We travelled around the range on a 29 seater coach from Coastal Coaches of Warton, Matt showed us all the various weaponry which is deployed

throughout the range, most of the equipment can be seen via the net on RAF Spadeadam's internet sight unfortunately we could'nt go to Kolinski to see SU 22 due

to the uneven surface and lack of 4x4s available which were being used by service personell.

We visited Grey Mare Hill and Prior Lancey to photograph the Blue Streak Rocket Testing site these structures have been listed as graded buildings by the authorities.

Whilst at Grey Mare Hill a Tornado GR4 flew a low level sortie very close to our position, arranged by Matt.

Unfortunately the Wg Comd explained that on tuesday and wednesday there had been FAC Exercises and it had been due to continue on thursday too but

due to the fantastic weather of recent days most of the training missions had been completed. As we travelled around the range we were impressed by the

amazing amount of equipment that has been assembled to present military type targets for the attacking airforces


One of the interesting areas is R8 this has just been completed and it can hold up to 7 Chinooks for refuelling there is also another small existing area for two more

Chinooks. We finished our tour at The HQ at Berry Hill, where we had a briefing of how the aircraft are controlled and how Electronic Warfare works.

We finished our tour with two group photographs one next to the Blue Steak and one by The SA 6.

At 2.0pm we went to The Solway Aviation Museum which had been specially opened up for us, what made is specially interesting was the exhibition relating to

Spadeadam, Now as most of the group are aircraft engineers they had worked on the Hunter, Lightning, Canberra, JP, Phantom, they had more photos for their albums.
Last edited by johnhowe on Thu Sep 18, 2014 2:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Geoff Carlisle
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:09 am

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by Geoff Carlisle » Tue Aug 26, 2014 7:11 pm

26/08/14 @12:30L

Noted working in the range this afternoon was ' Vortex 385 ' EH101 Merlin ZK001/AF

Geoff Mackay
Carlisle

User avatar
Cornish-guy
Posts: 2429
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:57 am

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by Cornish-guy » Tue Aug 26, 2014 7:55 pm

johnhowe wrote:Spadeadam Visit 24th, July, 2014, after booking in at the Guardroom, we met our host for the visit, It was The Station Commander Wing Commander Matt Lawrence.

Wg Cmd Lawrence gave a presentation on how Spadeadam evolved from The Blue Streak Rocket era , taken over by the Army as an artillerry range for a few years,

until it finally became solely used by aircraft from the USAF and RAF For Electronic Warfare with Nato type visiting on Exercises.


We travelled around the Range on a 29 seater coach of Coast Coaches of Warton, Matt was our Guide he showed us all the various weaponry which is deployed

throughout the range most, of the equipment can be seen via the net on RAF Spadeadam's internet sight, unfortunately we could'nt go to Kolinski to see SU 22 due

to the uneven surface and lack of 4x4s available .

We visited Grey Mare Hill an Prior Lancey to photograph The Blue Streak these structures have been listed as graded buildings by the authorities.

Whilst at Grey Mare Hill a Tornado GR4 flew a low level sortie very close to our position, arranged by Matt.

Unfortunately The Wg Comd explained that on Tuesday and Wednesday there had been FAC Exercises and it had been due to operate on our Thursday too, but

due to the fantastic weather of recent days most of the training missions had been completed,


One of the interesting areas is R8 this has just been completed and it can hold up to 7 Chinooks for refuelling there is also another small existing area for two more

Chinooks. We finished our tour at The HQ at Berry Hill, where we had a briefing of how the aircraft are controlled and how Electronic Warfare works.

We finished our tour with two group photographs one next to the Blue Steak and one by The SA 6.

At 2.0pm we went to The Solway Aviation Museum which had been specially opened up for us, what made is specially interesting was the exhibition relating to

Spadeadam, Now as most of the group are aircraft engineers they had worked on the Hunter, Lightning, Canberra, JP, Phantom, they had more photos for their albums.
Great post there John, a very interesting insight intro the range and its operation, shame you couldn't get across to the SU 22 sight.


C.
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 300 f4 IF ED :-)

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:59 pm

Notams for D510 & D510A RAF Spadeadam both Ranges are deactivated fron the 1st,September 2014, through to the 5th, September 2014 from 09.00am to 13.00 hours

but they are both additionally active from 16.00 BST to 18.00 BST again from the 1st Sept through to the 5th September, 2014.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ6i0UWLcM0CloseA2AMig 29.
There is a seperate Notam for Demolition of Explosives from the 1st September through to the 19th September 2014 Notam reads planned explosions and large scale
vertical jet fires wi 2 NM of Spadeadam Significant jetfire up to 350 feet. and other effects upto 3000 feet. Better warn the buzzards and other raptors.
Last edited by johnhowe on Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.

H.A.Bucken
Posts: 1487
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:21 pm

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by H.A.Bucken » Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:24 am

Early this week local radio said don't be alarmed if one sees flames 'up to 3000' high'; some onsite contractors would be testing the integrity of some pressure- pipes.


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Skoshi
Posts: 221
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:16 am

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by Skoshi » Thu Sep 11, 2014 2:45 pm

Several Apaches currently sitting on the Harrier pens at Otterburn, using Spade at night AFAIK, Also Italian Merlin at Carlisle using the range for calibration work.
Steve...

3 miles south of EGNT
UBC780XLT,UBC-800XLT,UBC-3500,MVT-7100,Aor8200Mk3
PP (BX), SBS-1
Pen and Paper

mikev1984
Posts: 1628
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:02 pm

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by mikev1984 » Thu Sep 11, 2014 7:07 pm

Thanks for the above details

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:45 am

https://www.facebook.com/events/756989801026982/ Hopefully some of the assets may use the Range and Carlisle Airport.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-la ... nt-warrior
Last edited by johnhowe on Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:40 pm

D510 Deactivated from 15/9/14 to 19/9/14 from 09.00.BST to 16.00.BST thats the bad news, the good news is

that it is reactivated from 15/9/14 to 19/9/14 from 17.00BST to 03.00. BST

warrior2035
Posts: 173
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:33 pm

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by warrior2035 » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:53 pm

John, does that mean flares at night, maybe?

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Tue Sep 16, 2014 7:31 am

johnhowe wrote:Notams for D510 & D510A RAF Spadeadam both Ranges are deactivated fron the 1st,September 2014, through to the 5th, September 2014 from 09.00am to 13.00 hours

but they are both additionally active from 16.00 BST to 18.00 BST again from the 1st Sept through to the 5th September, 2014.

There is a seperate Notam for Demolition of Explosives from the 1st September through to the 19th September 2014 Notam reads planned explosions and large scale
vertical jet fires wi 2 NM of Spadeadam Significant jetfire up to 350 feet. and other effects upto 3000 feet. Better warn the buzzards and other raptors.
Is it part of the Chamelon Exercise using the range for EW to and from drop zones.?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC6mFlykjmk
Last edited by johnhowe on Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:36 pm

I've recently had a couple of emails asking about where is the best place to view activity at Otterburn & Spadeadam, I think this thread by Hertsman answers all the questions.

posting.php?mode=reply&f=121&t=10965 click on title.

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Wed Sep 24, 2014 6:44 pm

Had a day out at Spade today. at 10.15am I was driving over Shap when 4 F15 Strike Eagles flew west to east at low level. I called in at Carlisle Airport there were 2 Army Air Lynx parked on the pan. The Lynx had been firing flares at Wiley Syke.

On arrival at Wiley Syke I saw there was a Cammo Seaking hovering near to Berry Hill, eventually he came to the Afghan Village and fired off 15 flares
singularly, on RTB flew directly over Wiley Syke heading south.

Next on the range was Gauntlet 84 a C130 doing trials work north of Berry Hill the Hercules never flew any low level serials.

Later in the afternoon 2 Merlins skirted the range flying west to east along Haltwistle Valley before eventually turning left towards the Otterburn area.

I had great crack with Danny from Tynemouth, nice to meet you sir.

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/ 2014NVG required

Post by johnhowe » Sat Oct 25, 2014 9:41 am

D510 & D510A deactivated from 10am to 12.00pm GMT Mon 27th through to Thurs 30th, October, 2014 but additional activity

Between 18.00 to 20.00GMT fron 27th, through to 30th, October, 2014 SFC to 5,500 feet. 308.775ICF & 282.05. 128 725. NVGs required.

User avatar
Skoshi
Posts: 221
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:16 am

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/ 2014

Post by Skoshi » Sun Oct 26, 2014 7:20 pm

Could be for the French troops that arrived at Newcastle although not 100% sure(could also be the choppers at Leeming). May have a doodle up Monday evening.
Steve...

3 miles south of EGNT
UBC780XLT,UBC-800XLT,UBC-3500,MVT-7100,Aor8200Mk3
PP (BX), SBS-1
Pen and Paper

Peted
Posts: 169
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:03 pm
Location: York, UK

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/ 2014

Post by Peted » Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:34 am

Hi Steve - any updates appreciated - am in caravan at Bellingham this week
Thanks
PeteD York

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/ 2014

Post by johnhowe » Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:52 pm

Roundabout 1500 today Wed 19th.November heard Typhoon 27 at Spade on range for 30 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVdUi-8F8P0 B1 rolls
Last edited by johnhowe on Sun Feb 22, 2015 10:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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